Download bulletin insert: St. Matthew bulletin insert April 28 2024.pdf
In June, four of ten Parish Council seats will become available. We are asking members of our faith community to consider whether they are being called to help lead our parish community.
The Parish Council is made up of individuals who combine their diverse gifts, experiences, knowledge, and perspectives to form a team that supports our entire community and advances the mission of St. Matthew.
What is the role of the Parish Council at the Church of St. Matthew?
The Parish Council represents the voice of the parish community. The Council is responsible for understanding the needs, ideas, hopes, life, and activity of the parish community so it can effectively carry out the mission of the parish. As a lay-led community, the Parish Council at St. Matthew plays an active role along with the Trustees, the Finance Committee, and the Parish Administrator in leading the parish.
Over the next year, one of the Parish Council’s top priorities will be to act on recommendations from the Task Force exploring the following areas of our parish life.
- St. Matt’s Leadership – Priorities and Concerns: What will spiritual leadership look like at St. Matt’s and how can we, as a parish, be active in providing input to the Archdiocese around this issue? How do we continue to model lay leadership in the Archdiocese?
- St. Matt’s Culture: How will we continue to build on our commitment to welcome all?
- Community Building and Outreach: How will we expand events, activities, and programs as we continue to be “A visible expression of God’s love” on the West Side of St. Paul
For More Information
If you would like to learn more about what’s involved, please reach out to a Council member, or send questions to the Council at . You are also welcome to attend a Council meeting which are open to the public.
Here’s the schedule for the next meeting:
May 23 at 6:30 pm
Parish Center, Lower Level
Meeting agendas are available in the Sunday bulletin insert the weekend before each meeting, or you can go to the web page https://st-matts-archive.org/parish-pastoral-council/.
Parish Council FAQs
How many people are on the Parish Council?
Up to nine Council members plus the Trustee and Parish Administrator. We currently have seven Council members.
How long is a Parish Council term?
It is a three-year commitment.
How often does the Parish Council meet?
The whole Council meets once per month, but only 11 times per year because we combine the meetings for November and December.
When does the Parish Council meet?
The Council currently meets from 6:30-8:00 pm on the fourth Thursday of every month, although each Council has the discretion to change meeting times and dates.
Where does the council meet?
In-person meetings are held at St. Matthew’s Parish Center. The Council has the discretion to meet virtually to minimize travel during winter or for other reasons.
How can I learn more?
All Council meetings are open to the public, so a good way to learn more is to attend an upcoming meeting.
Our next in-person meeting is on May 23. Another option is to talk to one of our current Council members, who could answer your questions. You could also send an email with questions or to express your interest to the Parish Council at .
What should I do if I want to join?
People who are considering joining are asked to attend a meeting to learn more about what the Council does and how it operates. After reflection, if they would like to join, they should inform the Council by the meeting on May 20.
Is there any training for this role? Yes! Two or more current Council members have a training session with new members. Also, experienced members (those with a year left in their term) help and mentor the new members.
How are people chosen? Four seats will become available in June. If four people want to join, they will take the vacant seats and join the Council at the June meeting. If more people are interested than there are Council positions available, names are drawn from a hat on Pentecost. Because St. Matthew’s is led by and heavily dependent on lay members, there are many opportunities for people to be active and play an important role in parish life.
St. Matthew Parish Council – Jerald Dosch, Kathy Goldenstein, Maggie Lee, Anthony Minus, Tara Perron, Ellen Schneider, Katie Shetka
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